Doctor Who's second episode scores big with 7.1 million viewers... after Jodie Whittaker's debut had the best ratings in 12 years for a series opener

Doctor Who continued to have strong ratings for its second episode The Ghost Monument, with a staggering 7.1 million overnight viewers tuning in to Sunday night's show.

Ratings dropped by just over a million from last week's debut, which saw 8.2 million tune in, but is still considered a success given how many people would have watched the first episode 'out of curiosity'.

The BBC's Lizo Mzimba said of the news on Twitter: 'Doctor Who continues its strong showing with overnight rating of 7.1m according to overnight figures.

Success! Doctor Who's second episode scored big with 7.1 million viewers tuning in on Sunday night... after Jodie Whittaker's debut had the best ratings in 12 years for a series opener

He added: 'Just over a million drop from last week's debut for Jodie Whittaker, which will be seen as good news considering how many will have tuned in out of curiosity for Ep 1.'

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Jodie Whittaker's debut as the Time Lord scored the highest ratings for The Woman Who Fell To Earth, the highest for a BBC One drama this year.

It received the best ratings for the show in 12 years for a Doctor Who opener, and it also beat Richard Madden and Keeley Hawes' Bodyguard, which launched with 6.7million viewers in August.

Win: Ratings dropped by just over a million from last week's debut, but is still considered a success given how many people would have watched the first episode 'out of curiosity'

The actress, 36, appeared as the 13th incarnation of the time-travelling Doctor and almost doubled the number of fans watching the show when compared to the equivalent series opener in 2017.

Last year’s season - which saw Peter Capaldi as the lead role - opened with only 4.6million during its first episode.

Last week's premiere, which moved to a Sunday-evening slot on BBC One after previously airing on Saturdays, peaked at a staggering nine million viewers - compared to Matt Smith's 8 million in 2010.

Jodie's score was however, beaten by David Tennant who had his first outing as the Doctor in a Christmas special in 2005, which drew 9.8million.

It's a hit! Jodie's debut in The Woman Who Fell To Earth last week was a huge ratings win for BBC One, and the show even beat Bodyguard (pictured) which got 6.7million viewers

Better: Last year’s series - which saw Peter Capaldi (pictured) as the Doctor - opened with only 4.6million during its first episode

And nobody has yet knocked Christopher Ecclestone off his top stop, as the start of the reboot to the franchise in 2005 saw 9.9million viewers tune in.

The show had been off air for 16 years after being axed by the BBC in 1989 following a decline in viewings.

Yet it's unlikely BBC's bosses will be faced with the same decision again anytime soon, as viewers were blown away by Jodie’s performance in the iconic role, with many gushing that the actress had all the best qualities of her predecessors.

Some were so impressed by her that they happily admitted she had completely embodied the character and that she was already '100% The Doctor'.

Top dog: Jodie's score was beaten by David Tennant who had his first outing as the Doctor in a Christmas special in 2005, which drew 9.8million (pictured with Catherine Tate in 2007)

Talented: The actress almost doubled the number of fans watching show when compared to the equivalent series opener in 2017

One wrote: 'I have watched every #DoctorWho actor since the first back in 1963. Jodie is quite outstanding & up there with the best.

'Brings great vibrancy, energy & no little touch of humour to the role. Jodie is Dr. Who.'

While another said of her take on the character: 'And Jodie is, in just one episode, 100% The Doctor. No Question.'

One thing that a lot of fans also commended Jodie on was the way in which her character was able to take the best qualities from her male counterparts.

Happy: Fans were impressed by her performance in her debut, saying she had completely embodied the character and that she was already '100% The Doctor'

Taking to Twitter in their droves to discuss it, one wrote: 'She's given off Matt Smith vibes from his tenre (sic) all weird and kooky and thats (sic) an awesome thing.'

While another agreed, and added: 'She's got 11's energy, with 12's emotional depth, a smattering of 9's sarcastic wit, and a touch of 10's mental exuberance. It's working for me.'

Another Twitter user said: 'She has the energy of 10, the optimism of 11, and the sass of 12... in other words she's amazing.'

Jodie's first episode as the sci-fi icon saw her fight off a Stenza Warrior, whilst also introducing her to her companions Ryan Sinclair (Tosin Cole), Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill) and Graham O'Brien (Bradley Walsh).

All the best qualities: One thing that fans commended Jodie on was how she was able to take the best qualities from her predecessors (pictured David Tennant, who played the 10th Doctor)